Some people are more sensitive to the really low temperatures and keeping warm can be a real challenge. Most of the times, their feet are the ones to suffer the most. The warmest socks can go a long way in the harsh winters that many areas experience, and they’re most likely made of wool.
There are many people that buy the cheapest socks possible without ever wondering why some socks cost up to 3 times more. I must admit I was one of those folks. But are those pairs built better, warmer, do they last for longer? It is time we exposed the truth about them and find some socks that will make our feet happy.
We hope that after reading this article, you’ll be more inclined to give those pricier socks a chance and change the way you see this foot garment. We try to review some socks in an unbiased manner so that you will be able to see both their good and bad aspect, and make the best possible choice.
Our top picks
| Product | Composition | Height | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wigwam The Ice Sock | 80% Wool, 20% Stretch Nylon | Crew | Check price on Amazon |
| Icebreaker Hike Plus | Various fibers | Crew | Check price on Amazon |
| Falke TK2 | 40% Polypropylene 28% Acrylic 22% Merino wool 9% Polyamide 1% Elastane | Calf high | Check price on Amazon |
| SealSkinz Hydrostop | 100% Nylon,Merino wool lining | Mid calf | Check price on Amazon |
| Smartwool Heavy Crew | 73% Merino wool, 25% Nylon, 2% Elastane | Crew | Check price on Amazon |
| Smartwool Medium Crew | 67% Merino wool, 31% Nylon, 2% Elastane | Crew | Check price on Amazon |
Features to Consider before Purchase
So, you probably wonder what do people do to keep warm in the coldest weather. The answer is simple: some wear two pairs of socks to keep the cold at bay, while others wear the warmest socks ever. Sounds pretty easy, right?
Consider wool socks
Wool socks seem to be the answer to all the prayers related to having cold feet. There’s a reason for which wool is one of the best materials to make clothes from. The reason is that there is nothing like wool to keep warm in the cold weather or to maintain a cool temperature when it’s hot.
Wool is one of nature’s best insulators, and there is no reason not to wear it when the temperature reaches below freezing point. Some socks made of wool are such good insulators, they can even be worn with sport shoes when you ride your bike on a really windy day.
You probably think that wool socks are thick, ugly, and itchy. This may have been the case when your great-grandmother was young, but these days things have changed. Wool can be treated to be thin, really soft and look stylish at the same time.
At the same time, wool socks these days are not always entirely made of wool. Instead the wool yarn is mixed in with other fibers that make it more durable.
Comfort
People who stand or walk a lot a lot know just how important comfortable footwear is. At times wearing only shoes that are comfortable is not enough. Oftentimes, socks are something that get overlooked by many people.
However, these days it is possible to buy a pair of socks that will help increase the comfort level of your feet. In addition to keeping your feet cozy, a good pair of socks can help you while walking as well as you’ll feel less tired.
For a long period of time people thought that cotton socks are the best to wear at all times, however this is not really the case. Cotton socks get and stay wet if your feet sweat, something that doesn’t happen when wearing wool socks.
What’s more, is that wool socks can be hung overnight in some well ventilated place and have them smell as fresh as possible. This is not the case with cotton socks: these retain their bad smell even if you hang them in the same spot.
Foot specific socks
Making socks for each foot in particular helps with maintaining their shape for a longer time. If you don’t believe it, just inspect your regular socks and see how they got looser overtime, even if they’re still in pretty good overall shape.
There are two types of such foot specific indicators in socks: visual and tactile. The visual one is self-explanatory – all you have to do is to look at the pair and you’ll generally see a mirrored designed on them.
The tactile indicator requires the wearer to put the socks on the opposite feet and feel a difference, a slight discomfort. Some of the medium weight socks are also cushioned to offer more support and protection during a variety of outdoor adventures.
The cushions are placed on the sports that suffer more when walking, and are meant to protect and support the foot. These cushions are another indicator of which sock goes on which foot, as the discomfort will be hard to ignore when the socks are worn on the wrong feet.
What’s more, is that you can even find medium weight socks that are completely waterproof: you could be standing in a puddle wearing just your socks, and having your toes feeling dry. Many of these socks are designed to dry fast even when you simply hang them.
The best socks to keep you warm in winter
Wouldn’t you like to see some socks that will really keep you warm in winter, and that fit the bill of the above descriptions? The wait is over as we compiled a short list below.
Wigwam The Ice Sock
Height: Crew height
Specific features: Unisex, breathable
Best use: Hiking, outdoor, biking
Some people have to deal with cold feet all winter when going outside, no matter what they do or wear.
It’s perhaps time they tried these Wigwam The Ice Sock as they’re heavyweight thermal and meant to be worn with winter boots. On the downside your boots should be one size larger, or you won’t be able to wear them together.
Furthermore, the sizes are for men and the ladies should size the socks down if they want to purchase a pair for themselves. You’ll also notice that if you wear them while riding your bike, wind won’t even bother you.
As they’re made with wool among other fibers, you can wear these over and over without the need to wash them: they keep moisture away and as such your feet won’t smell. Many people are sensitive to real wool as it can itch, but the wool used in these socks is soft, and as such there will be no itching sensation.
PROS:
- 80% Wool
- Unisex
- Too thick
- Run large for women
Related: If you’ll be dealing with extreme cold weather anytime soon, you better have a look at the Wigwam Men’s 40 Below Socks designed for -40 degrees temperatures, or below. These socks are meant to be worn with boots as well.
Icebreaker Hike Plus Socks
Height: Crew
Specific features: Foot specific, odor resistant
Best use: Hiking, cold weather
It doesn’t matter how long you have to walk: 1 or 100 miles, for these socks will keep your feet dry, comfortable and blister free. They’re made of a combination of yarns, one of them being Merino wool which was proven to offer proper climate control in your shoes.
You’ll probably be better off by buying lighter socks in summer as you’ll feel slightly too hot in these ones at that time. The other types of threads used, help with keeping the sock in place, but also dry.
Some people like to always wear their socks the same way as they did the first time. This is not always possible with most socks, however these Icebreaker Hike Plus Socks have a design to indicate how they must be worn.
Furthermore, if you were to ignore the visual markings, once they’re on the wrong way, they’ll feel uncomfortable, prompting you to switch them around. Cleaning them is easy as all you have to do is to wash them in the machine, according to the instructions.
PROS:
- Anatomical built
- Easy maintenance
- The price
- Mix of fibers
- Hang to dry
Related: Single color socks can be boring, so if you want some color in your hiking wardrobe, you can always opt for the Lifestyle Lite Crew Socks offered by Icebreaker.
Falke TK2 Socks
Height: Calf high
Specific features: Anatomic shape for each foot
Best use: Walking, camping, hiking, year round
When you spend a lot of time on your feet or walking a lot, you want to be sure you will also feel comfortable. The Falke TK2 Socks are a good choice for this purpose.
They are made of a mix of fibers, including 22% virgin Merino wool which maintains a constant temperature around your feet.
If your feet sweat a lot, it’s time you forgot about this issue for all the fibers used in the making of these socks are meant to keep moisture away. While hiking or walking, some areas of the foot need more cushioning than others. These men’s socks have cushions all in the right places to keep your feet as comfortable as possible, for the longest time possible.
What sets these socks apart from other socks is their anatomic build specifically for each foot. Their outer design will also indicate which sock is for which foot therefore you’ll never lose time wondering how to put them on, or having to take them off because you mistook them.
PROS:
- 22% virgin Merino wool
- Anatomic shape
- Year round
- Mix of several fibers
SealSkinz Hydrostop Socks
Height: Mid calf
Specific features: Windproof, waterproof, breathable
Best use: Wet weather, winter cycling, canoeing, mountaineering, caving
A good pair of socks can go a long way, should you be willing to pay the price.
These socks are a perfect choice for anyone spending a lot of time in a water related environment, no matter you’re fishing, boating, sailing, or if you stepped in a puddle of water by mistake.
The SealSkinz Hydrostop Socks offer protection from the elements, keeping your feet warm and dry. These specific socks use a hydrostop band that prevents water from entering the socks from above. The band is silicone free and moves when the socks move, however it always stays tight on the leg.
This band is an addition to the special treatment against water and humidity, the outside of sock received. If you worry about your feet sweating, you shouldn’t: the Merino wool lining controls the moisture. If you like cycling, you shouldn’t stop just because winter came.
Your feet won’t feel the breeze if you wear these SealSkinz socks while you ride your bike.
PROS:
- Waterproof
- Windproof
- Warm
- Made of nylon
- The price
Related: Sometimes a pair of black and gray socks can look a bit too plain or boring. The SealSkinz Men’s Sea Eagle Socks pair offered by SealSkinz has a nice argyle design on the side
Smartwool Heavy Crew Socks
Height: Crew
Specific features: 71% Merino wool
Best use: Backpacking, hiking, camping, winter
People who go camping are sometimes exposed to really low temperatures, and this is bad for their feet is they don’t have appropriate footwear.
These Smartwool Heavy Crew Socks will keep your toes dry, nice and warm, even if you’re more sensitive to cold weather than most people.
One of the best features these socks have is that they don’t need to be washed as often as other socks. This is because all you have to do is to hang them overnight to get some fresh air and put them on again the next morning. Wool, unlike cotton, doesn’t need to be cleaned as often and just by airing the item it will feel fresh and clean.
Backpacking and hiking means you’ll be using your feet a lot, even risk getting a few blisters along the way. These socks are cushioned and protect your feet from exhaustion by keeping them comfortable at all times.
PROS:
- 73% Merino wool
- Need less washing
- Tight fitting
Related: If you want taller socks, then the SmartWool PhD Mountaineering Socks are a great option for you as they cover your calves
Smartwool Medium Crew Socks
Height: Crew
Specific features: 67% Merino wool, machine wash, cushioned
Best use: Hiking, climbing, the outdoor, winter
Keeping your feet warm and comfortable at the same time in winter or while hiking can be difficult. These Smartwool socks are different and might as well be the answer to your prayers. These Smartwool Medium Crew Socks are cushioned in all the right places therefore your feet will feel comfortable no matter the type of activity you perform.
Too much cushioning can make you feel too hot, but these socks have some mesh areas for ventilation: your feet will barely sweat. What’s more, is that you can wear them for days on end with barely any bad odor at the end of the day. You’ll also notice these socks will protect you against blisters, no matter how much you walk.
Most of us hate it when the sock slide down, but the elastic in this pair will simply make the socks stay put. Cleaning them is easy: all it takes is a gentle cycle with lukewarm water and then hung to dry. To prevent them from shrinking, you might want to handwash them in cold water. If you’re still scared they’ll shrink, get a size up.
PROS:
- 67% Merino wool
- Very comfortable
- The price
- They run tight
To wrap it up
This ends our selection of really warm socks for any kind of weather and therefore it should set you in the right direction when you’ll need to buy a new pair again. These socks are more expensive than what you’d hope to pay, however remember they’re designed to keep you warm, cozy, blisters free, and to last a long time.
Featured Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/boots-footwear-workwear-socks-3450702/
